Match tier Confirmed
Presence Current · Arkansas
Last published 2026
Sources OpenAlex · ORCID
Refreshed 2026-08-15

Benjamin R. K. Runkle

Affiliation confirmed via AI analysis of OpenAlex, ORCID, and web sources.

High Impact

Associate Professor

University of Arkansas

Also affiliated: United States Department of Agriculture (2022); University of Alaska Fairbanks (2021); Max Planck Society (2014); Universität Hamburg (2011–2022); University of Arkansas System (2025); Clinical Research Organization (2013–2014); Delta Water Management Research Unit (2023); Institute of Soil Science (2022); University of California, Berkeley (2008–2011)

Faculty Researcher

32 h-index 200 pubs 3,271 cited

Research Areas

Biomedical Subjects

  • Ecosystem
  • Oryza
  • Methane
  • Agriculture
  • Soil
  • Climate Change
  • Greenhouse Gases
  • Climate
  • Remote Sensing Technology
  • Seasons
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Wetlands
  • Carbon
  • Arkansas

Links

ORCID Lab Website

OverviewAI-generated summary

Benjamin R. K. Runkle's research focuses on understanding greenhouse gas emissions from ecosystems, particularly methane from wetlands and agricultural systems. He has published extensively on the factors influencing methane fluxes, including environmental predictors and seasonal variations. His work has contributed to the development of global datasets, such as FLUXNET-CH4, which analyze methane seasonality across diverse freshwater wetlands.

Runkle has received significant federal funding to support his investigations. As a Co-PI, he has been involved in projects totaling over $8 million, addressing critical issues such as water recycling in agricultural resource management, understanding methane emissions from rice cultivation, and supporting Native American youth in STEM fields. Other funded projects include research on invasive species and broiler chicken production.

His academic background includes a B.S.E. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. from UC-Berkeley, both in Civil & Environmental Engineering. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Hamburg Institute of Soil Science. Runkle is recognized as a highly cited researcher, with a significant publication record and citation count, and actively collaborates with colleagues at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Metrics

  • h-index: 32
  • Publications: 200
  • Citations: 3,271

Selected Publications

  • Depth-dependent hydrological and substrate dynamics enhance methane modeling and inform water management in rice systems (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from October 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex
  • Data for EMSL Project 61115 from November 2025 (2026)
    DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 8 $8,212,442 total

Note: 8 grants are marked "Topic-matched" — attributed by description keywords rather than verified PI records.

USDA Topic-matched Sep 2024 - Aug 2028

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH ARE AMONG THE LEAST REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FIELDS IN THE US. THERE ARE FOUR CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMMON FOR STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: 1) A SENSE OF BELONGING; 2) A VISION AND PURPOSE; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND 4) ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE. THE U

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $750,000
USDA Topic-matched Sep 2023 - Aug 2027

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH ARE AMONG THE LEAST REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FIELDS IN THE US. THERE ARE FOUR CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMMON FOR STUDENTS FROM TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: 1) A SENSE OF BELONGING; 2) A VISION AND PURPOSE; 3) COLLEGE PREPARATION, AND 4) ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE. THE U

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $749,625
USDA Topic-matched Jun 2023 - May 2026

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN COMING DECADES, CLIMATE CHANGE WILL JEOPARDIZE PRODUCTION OF STAPLE CROPS IN THE U.S., HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION AND IMPROVED CLIMATE-CROP RESPONSE PREDICTION. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF MACHINE LEARNING TO DEVELOP MULTI-SCALE (WITHIN-FIELD TO NATIONAL SCA

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $180,000
USDA Topic-matched May 2023 - Apr 2027

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GLOBALLY, INVASIVE SPECIES CAUSE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGES TO ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND BIODIVERSITY, AND THESE DAMAGES WILL ONLY INCREASE AS CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESSES. THE U.S. HAS ADOPTED EARLY DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE (EDRR) POLICIES TO PREVENT SPREAD AND ESTABLISHMENT OF INVASIVE SPECI

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $650,000
USDA Topic-matched Jan 2022 - Sep 2025

WITH THE WORLD POPULATION PROJECTED TO REACH 9.8 BILLION BY 2050, THERE IS IMMENSE PRESSURE ON ANIMAL AGRICULTURE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HIGH-QUALITY PROTEIN. BROILER CHICKENS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN WORLDWIDE MEAT PRODUCTION, AS THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT FOOD SOURCES, AND SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOODS AND FOOD SECURITY OF BILLIONS OF PEOPLE. GENETIC SELECTION FOR HIGH GROWTH RATE AND ENHANCED MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT HAS MADE IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS IN TERMS OF BREAST

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $299,944
NASA Topic-matched Jun 2021 - May 2027

RICE IS A SIGNIFICANT FOOD CROP THAT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR 8% OF GLOBAL ANTHROPOGENIC METHANE EMISSIONS DUE TO ITS CULTIVATION IN ANAEROBIC SOIL ENVIRONMENTS. THERE IS STILL CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY TO THE METHANE EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RICE

National Aeronautics and Space Administration $1,069,563
USDA Topic-matched Sep 2020 - Sep 2024

THE FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCE, AND HUMAN SCIENCES ARE EXPERIENCING COMPLEX CHALLENGES, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, POPULATION GROWTH, GLOBALIZED MARKETS AND A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED GRADUATES TO FILL POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY AMONG UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL AND RECRUITMENT MODEL FOR POSTSECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND CAREERS HAS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THESE NEEDS.THIS PROJECT PROPOSES USING A MODEL OF HIGH-IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPS) TO ENHANCE INSTRUCTIONAL EXPER

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $193,368
USDA Topic-matched Aug 2018 - Jul 2025

THE COMBINATION OF CONTINUED GLOBAL POPULATION GROWTH, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 3 BILLION PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT 40 YEARS, AND EXPECTED INTENSIFICATION OF CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND RESULTING VARIABILITY IN RELIABLE WATER RESOURCES REQUIRES THAT WATER RECYCLING BECOME AN INTEGRATED PART OF AGRICULTURAL WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. FURTHER, IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS ARE LOST TO WASTEWATERS BUT COULD BE RECYCLED AND REUSED FOR FOOD PRODUCTION. ABSENT A CONCERTED EFFORT TO RECYCLE THESE NUTRIENTS, THE FOOD SUPPLY DEM

National Institute of Food and Agriculture $4,319,942

Collaboration Network

363 Collaborators 176 Institutions 28 Countries

Top Collaborators

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Lauren Gwaltney University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
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Gerardo Celis University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
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Chris Olson Hendrix College
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